Histochemical demonstration of heavy metals. A revised version of the sulphide silver method suitable for both light and electronmicroscopy.
The three steps of the sulphide silver method have been examined: 1) Transformation of metals to metal sulphides; 2) Fixation and embedding or freezing of the tissue for sectioning; and 3) Deposition of metallic silver on the metal sulphides in a physical developer. Based on the results, a revised method is described and discussed. It is particularly important 1) To maintain a sufficient but low concentration of sulphide ions during the perfusion; 2) To avoid using oxidating or acid fixatives; 3) To ensure low temperatures while embedding in paraffin or during polymerization of Epon; and 4) to use a slow-acting physical developer. Examples of the metal sulphide pattern from various tissues are presented.
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005404:Fixatives; D005976:Glutaral; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D012834:Silver; D013440:Sulfides; D013696:Temperature
D005404:Fixatives; D008670:Metals; D013440:Sulfides; D012834:Silver; D005976:Glutaral